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Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs

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Hi,

thank you Nilesh for getting this started.

On Sun, May 10, 2026 at 03:39:38PM +0100, Sean Whitton wrote:
> Nilesh Patra [10/May  1:04pm +0530] wrote:
> > diff --git a/policy/ch-controlfields.rst b/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
> > index 69467c4..f4d5fe9 100644
> > --- a/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
> > +++ b/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
> > @@ -1381,8 +1381,10 @@ A Debian installation can combine packages from multiple architectures.
> >  The ``Multi-Arch`` field enables individual packages to declare their
> >  support for this feature, and influences the way dependencies are
> >  handled.  It can be declared in binary package sections of a source
> > -package template control file and in binary package control files.  The
> > -permitted field values are ``no`` (default), ``foreign``, ``same`` and
> > +package template control file and in binary package control files.
> > +``Multi-Arch`` must not be used for udebs, as these semantics are out
> > +of scope for the Debian installer.
> > +The permitted field values are ``no`` (default), ``foreign``, ``same`` and
> >  ``allowed``. Their semantics are described in the following sections.
> >
> >  .. _s-f-Multi-Arch-no:
> 
> Thanks.  Helmut, do you agree with using a "must not" here?

Generally, I agree with the intent of this change. I do not anticipate
any use of Multi-Arch in the installer. In particular, the way it is
built does not consider this field in any way.

Now "must not" is strong for a field that is ignored. I checked the
amd64 main Packages file and the "must not" would render at least 9 font
packages rc-buggy. Their use of this field presently does not cause
immediate problems as far as I can see.

I kinda like the way this is expressed for the Standards-Version:

    udebs and source packages that only produce udebs do not use Standards-Version.

How about borrowing the wording there?

I am hesitant to second the "must not" precisely for those font
packages.

Helmut

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Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Nilesh Patra <nilesh@debian.org> - 2026-05-10 09:40 +0200
  Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Guillem Jover <guillem@debian.org> - 2026-05-10 17:10 +0200
  Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Guillem Jover <guillem@debian.org> - 2026-05-10 20:00 +0200
    Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Nilesh Patra <nilesh@debian.org> - 2026-05-10 23:30 +0200
  Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Helmut Grohne <helmut@subdivi.de> - 2026-05-12 22:50 +0200
    Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Nilesh Patra <nilesh@debian.org> - 2026-05-13 14:30 +0200
      Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs Helmut Grohne <helmut@subdivi.de> - 2026-05-13 22:10 +0200

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